Shiva Tandav Stotram live performance at the dhuni of Baba Rampuri, in Assagao, Goa, after midnight on Mahashivaratri 2019.
Performers: Suryademah (Electric Baglama & Daf), Tritha Sinha (vocals), Naveen Gandharva (tabla), Devanand Gandharva (keyboards), Vivek Philip (drumset), and Tamali Chakraborty (the Dance of Kali Ma)
On the night of Mahashivaratri, in an epoch long past, the Demon King, Ravana, who was among Shiva’s greatest devotees, made a pilgrimage to attend the wedding of Shiva and Parvati.
Being a demon his great powers which arose from his devotion to Shiva, went to his head, in fact, his ego was so great, that he grew ten heads.
When Ravana arrived at Mount Kailash, Shiva’s abode, he challenged the Great God by lifting and shaking the mountain. Shiva took little notice and merely placed his thumb on the ground in front of Him, which crushed Ravana as if he were a gnat.
Ravan was so impressed by Shiva’s display, that he tore off one of his ten heads, ripped the veins out of his arm, strung them to the severed head, and sang his praises of Lord Shiva composing the “Shiva Tandav Stotram.”
